This October, The Mutton, a new family-run pub and dining room will open in the idyllic village of Hartley Wintney, north Hampshire.
Housed in a lovingly restored 19th century public house and former post office, and located a short driving distance from Reading and Basingstoke, The Mutton is set on the fringe of Hazeley Heath Nature reserve, offering locals and travellers alike a comforting countryside dining spot.
The Mutton is a project of passion, bought and lovingly restored to its former glory by the Taylor family and close friend Ashley Hatton with support from hospitality specialists and founders of Truffle Hunting Consulting, Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean, whose recent success stories include The Oarsman at Marlow and The Crown at Bray.
The kitchen will be headed up by Rob Boer, who began his career in Cornwall under Nathan Outlaw before continuing to stock his larder with best of British produce at classic pubs including The Montagu Arms in Hampshire as Sous Chef. Rob joins The Mutton from his most recent venture, Betony at The Kings Head in Wiltshire where he worked under Matt Tomkinson as Head Chef.
Open from lunch through to dinner, The Mutton’s menu is driven by high quality ingredients that roll with the seasons. A concise selection of pub classics have been reimagined to champion local producers, starting with small sharing plates such as the mutton fat crumpets, which pairs the pub’s namesake with pickled red cabbage; and torched mackerel, which fills delicately spiced pakoras.
When it comes to the mains, the produce has been chosen with the same ethos: guests can enjoy the rich flavours of venison from Medstead Meats served alongside salt-baked celeriac, rainbow chard, beetroot and pepper jus; or discover new iterations of offal in the grill section of the menu, which pairs Cote de Boeuf, roasted onion and beef fat potato with tender beef tongue. Alternatively, diners can opt for vegetarian options such as farro risotto, sweetcorn, blue cheese and crispy kale and butter roasted cauliflower, crispy kale, harissa.
Guests can also opt for a classic British staple with The Muttons Sunday lunch offering served with all the trimmings. For something sweet, desserts will include the likes of a silken dark chocolate crèmeaux, with a tropical accompaniment of lime parfait, coconut and raspberry, or more traditional puddings such as plum upside-down cake, made with locally grown fruit and finished with ricotta ice cream.
Guests can pull up a stool at the wooden bar, nestled under low beamed ceilings and take in the countryside scenery from the garden room.
Pub-goers are also invited to settle down in the pub’s 75 seater dining room, where vintage furniture has been repurposed, with warming burnt orange and yellow banquettes and the walls adorned with an array of eclectic artwork inspired by the local produce.
Located amidst the popular walking trails of North Hampshire, Heckfield Place and Wellington Country Park, The Mutton will be not only an all-day spot for locals - from an afternoon coffee to final nightcap - but a destination bolthole for travellers in all seasons.
The Taylor family said of the pub, “We are so excited to bring new life back to this beloved building, which has long been a favourite spot for locals. For us, it was extremely important that we support local businesses, that’s why The Mutton’s menu offers revamped British classics with a conscience; we focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients which we hope will showcase the quality of UK produce.
'The design also reflects the same fusion of old and new: while the pub has fun contemporary features, we have also been careful to maintain that countryside charm of this classic pub. The Mutton is a piece of North Hampshire history and we hope to do it proud through our ownership.”